What Are You Reading? December 2012

annis · Post by **annis** » Wed December 26th, 2012, 4:51 am

Just finished Roman Games a historical mystery by American David Macbain which is set around the conspiracy to assassinate Roman Emperor Domitian. Macbain was an unknown quantity, but this mystery featuring Pliny the Younger and the poet Martial as unlikely duo of sleuths was an unexpected little gem. Far better than Lindsey Davis' disappointing Master & God, which covers a similar period. Macbain has up till now only written various esoteric monographs (he's a Classics and History scholar), so this entertaining, twisty debut with its well-realised background and characters came out of the blue. First in a proposed series- I look forward to the next one.

emr · Post by **emr** » Wed December 26th, 2012, 8:08 am

[quote=""annis""]Just finished Roman Games a historical mystery by American David Macbain which is set around the conspiracy to assassinate Roman Emperor Domitian. Macbain was an unknown quantity, but this mystery featuring Pliny the Younger and the poet Martial as unlikely duo of sleuths was an unexpected little gem. Far better than Lindsey Davis' disappointing Master & God, which covers a similar period. Macbain has up till now only written various esoteric monographs (he's a Classics and History scholar), so this entertaining, twisty debut with its well-realised background and characters came out of the blue. First in a proposed series- I look forward to the next one.[/quote]

Bruce MacBain

I think I'll give it a try hehe (***loves romans) Reading now The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters, first person, present tense, not bad so far.

fljustice · Post by **fljustice** » Thu December 27th, 2012, 4:51 pm

Finished Eighty Days, the NF book about two "girl reporters" traveling around the world (in opposite directions) in 1889-90. Quite interesting and will doing a review soon. Started a reread of The Hobbit after watching the movie.

EC2 · Post by **EC2** » Thu December 27th, 2012, 5:36 pm

[quote=""fljustice""]Finished Eighty Days, the NF book about two "girl reporters" traveling around the world (in opposite directions) in 1889-90. Quite interesting and will doing a review soon. Started a reread of The Hobbit after watching the movie.[/quote]

Yes, I did that too! (re-read The Hobbit). I can see where it all fits in.

I've just finished a NF biography of bishop Arnulf of Lisieux in the reign of Henry II. The more I read about the latter from side sources, the more of a bast**d he becomes!

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Fri December 28th, 2012, 12:44 pm

The Summer of the Bear by Bella Pollen

emr · Post by **emr** » Fri December 28th, 2012, 5:14 pm

The Heresy of Dr Dee by Phil Rickman

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Sat December 29th, 2012, 1:18 pm

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

sweetpotatoboy · Post by **sweetpotatoboy** » Sat December 29th, 2012, 1:35 pm

Recently started Theodora by Stella Duffy.

Ash · Post by **Ash** » Sat December 29th, 2012, 2:09 pm

Not HF but fascinating State of Wonder by Ann Patchett (wrote Bel Canto for those who might have enjoyed that one).

Also finished Astray by Emma Donague. Its a series of short stories based on actual characters or events from the footnotes of history. The one about the orphan train child was absolutely haunting.

J.D. Oswald · Post by **J.D. Oswald** » Sat December 29th, 2012, 3:01 pm

Just finished Robert Harris's Imperium, which I thought was excellent and quite an achievement to make all the political machinations such a page-turner. Will certainly read the next one in the series, Lustrum. (For now, have started a non-HF Christmas present, Ian Rankin's Standing in Another Man's Grave.)